Centre for Enterprise
Hourly Pay Rate:
£15.36 hourly pay + £1.85per hour holiday pay
Hours Per Week
16
Duration of role:
Short term role
All Locations
Manchester campus (Jobs4Students)
Closing Date:
24 May 2026

Job Description

The current opportunity is available for current Manchester Met students, to apply you must be based in the UK for the duration of the role.
 

Principal Accountabilities

The main purpose of this role is to provide research support for the Place-Based Circular Society Innovations Project by assisting with qualitative research activities, interview analysis, qualitative coding, database development, and dissemination of findings to relevant research groups and stakeholders.

The role will support the development of research on sustainability transitions, circular society innovations, and place-based approaches to sustainability and circular economy practices. The Research Assistant will contribute to the development of a large academic qualitative database for research and impact purposes.

 
 
Dates: 1 June 26 - 30 September 26
Hours: Up to 16 hours per week
Location: Business School 2.01

Key Tasks
Research Activities

Principal Accountabilities

The main purpose of this role is to provide research support for the Place-Based Circular Society Innovations Project by assisting with qualitative research activities, interview analysis, qualitative coding, database development, and dissemination of findings to relevant research groups and stakeholders.

The role will support the development of research on sustainability transitions, circular society innovations, and place-based approaches to sustainability and circular economy practices. The Research Assistant will contribute to the development of a large academic qualitative database for research and impact purposes.

Plan and prioritise own work and resources, within research project framework, in order to determine the most effective way to achieve agreed research objectives.

Use initiative and judgement to develop appropriate techniques in order to facilitate research work and resolve problems affecting the achievement of objectives and deadlines.

Liaison and Networking
  • Engage professionally with all stakeholders connected to the project.
  • Work collaboratively with academic investigators and wider research teams.
Service Provision
  • Engage proactively with quality assurance procedures and research ethics protocols.
  • Support academic investigators with ongoing project development and research activities.
  • Contribute to maintaining organised research records and databases.
Team Working
  • Actively contribute to the research team of PBCSI project and broader academic environment within the Department of Strategy, Enterprise and Sustainability.
  • Work collaboratively within team environments and support shared project objectives.
  • Participate in project meetings and contribute to discussions on qualitative research activities and findings.

Other
  • Adhere to health and safety policies and apply the University’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
  • Promote environmental sustainability practices within the project and University.
  • Carry out additional relevant duties, in agreement with the project investigators and managers.
 
Miscellaneous
You have a legal duty, so far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure that you do not endanger yourself or anyone else by your acts or omissions. In addition, you must cooperate with the University on health and safety matters and must not interfere or misuse anything provided for health, safety and welfare purposes.
 
You are responsible for applying the University’s Equal Opportunities Policy in your own area of responsibility and in your general conduct.
 
You have a responsibility to promote high levels of customer care within your own areas of work.
 
Such other relevant duties commensurate with the grade of the post as may be assigned by the Manager in agreement with you. Such agreement should not be unreasonably withheld.
 
You have the responsibility to engage with the University’s commitment to Environmental Sustainability in order to reduce its waste, energy consumption and carbon footprint.
 
You have the responsibility to engage with the University’s commitment to delivering value for money services that optimise the use of resources and therefore should consider this when undertaking all duties and aspects of your role.

Person Specification

This role is only open to current Manchester Met students who meet the criteria below:
Essential
  • Currently enrolled in or recently completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Sustainability, Business and Management, Social Sciences, Environmental Studies, Sustainable Fashion, Geography, Sociology, or related disciplines.
  • Understanding of qualitative research methods, including interviewing and qualitative data analysis.
  • Interest and previous knowledge in sustainability, circular economy, circular society innovations, and place-based sustainability transitions.
  • Ability to assist in research activities including preparing for, conducting, recording, and organising interviews and qualitative research materials.
  • Experience in qualitative research software and digital tools (e.g., NVivo, Atlas.ti, Microsoft Office Suite).
  • Ability to contribute to thematic analysis, template analysis, and qualitative coding activities.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively within academic team environments.
  • Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple research-related tasks.
  • Awareness of confidentiality, anonymisation, and ethical considerations in qualitative research.
  • Good written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable

  • Previous experience working on academic research projects or within research teams.
  • Experience with qualitative coding or qualitative data analysis.
  • Experience using NVivo, Atlas.ti, MS Excel or similar qualitative research software.
  • Experience contributing to academic reports, presentations, databases, or publications.
  • Interest in place-based innovation, circular society initiatives, sustainability transitions, or community-based sustainability research.
  • Willingness to support the project over an extended period.

How to Apply

Please apply via the Apply button, completing the form on the next page and attaching your covering letter and CV, as a single document, in either .docx (preferred for accessibility) or .pdf format.

The deadline for applications is 11:59pm on Sunday 24 May 2026.

Manchester Metropolitan University is committed to supporting the rights, responsibilities, dignity, health and wellbeing of staff and students through our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. 
  
We are committed to providing accessible and inclusive recruitment. If you require or would benefit from support or reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and in work, please contact us by e-mailing [email protected]. This information will only be used and shared with those who require it to implement any change(s) and only at the point this is required.
 
If you have any queries, or need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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